It's not just great teachers that shape your life. Sometimes it's the absence of great teachers . . . Being ignored can be just as good for a person as being lauded.

Roberts contrasts the obvious influence of inspiring mentors with a subtler formative force: neglect. The quote suggests that not being singled out, praised, or “handled” by authority can push someone to develop self-reliance, inner motivation, and a clearer sense of identity. In this view, absence becomes a kind of negative instruction—teaching resilience, independence, and the ability to proceed without external validation. The final line reframes “being ignored” as potentially beneficial, implying that constant acclaim can distort growth (through entitlement, pressure, or dependence on approval), while anonymity can create space to experiment, fail privately, and build sturdier confidence.